West River Trail

                                                                  (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

This painting has been sitting on my desk. It was painted at the end of winter. At the time there was the promise of spring after a winter of closures due to Covid-19. However, in the spring, we didn't really have any rain to speak of.

So here we are months later - in a heat wave with a greater drought. However, we have had some flash storms the last two days.

While I return to viewing this watercolor I don't know if I am reflecting on this time or projecting the future. However, I do find the image calming with such clarity of light and the increased length of day.

Madame Sherri Forest

                                                                           (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

Before heading to Maine for a vacation in July I did a bit of plein air painting. 

This was painted at the Madame Sherri Forest in Chesterfield, NH. This is a lovely 513 acre landscape consisting of a pond, woods and views of Wantastiquet Mountain. The reflections and wildlife in and around the pond were very lively.

In this painting I particularly like the brushwork in the foreground. The bold colors, loose brushwork and white of the paper add much to the experience of the landscape.

Watercolor Study

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

When time is limited a small watercolor can be just as satisfying as a full sheet. I painted this after I got home from my vacation from Maine. 

Basically, I painted this from memory. It reminds me of the estuaries my wife and I drove and walked through along the coast in southern Maine. I read at a kiosk that this estuary is the largest in the state of Maine. It is a beautiful landscape unto itself.

On our vacation we experienced some of most incredible sunsets I have ever seen. The sunset across the ocean and the estuary which made it so dramatic. Often, I took walks in the evening to experience the setting sun or catch the full moon.

The Brattleboro Common

                                                                          (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro

The other evening I drove by the Brattleboro Common in the early evening and saw the largest crowd I have ever seen at that location, All sitting patiently, watching musicians perform. So I stopped by and realized the Brattleboro Common has a lot subject matter I could paint. It even has a war memorial up on a pedestal.

What I like about this plein air is that it captures in color the drought we have been experiencing. In other words, you can feel the temperature of the mid-day sun, through watercolor painting.

The other thing about painting is that it makes you see things for what they are. The shadows have a more organic wash than I usually use. They are not the cold gray colors I sometimes use to express the shadows when there are strong light contrasts.

 

Bar Island

                                                               (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

 My wife and I toured Maine over the last two weeks. We were fortunate to experience many evenings with stunning sunsets. Of all the times I have visited Maine over the years I don't ever recall such good weather. The one evening it rained it cooled everything off.

On Bar Harbor, Bar Island is known as a great sunset location. Actually, when the tide is low you don't even have to go out as far as the island to experience the setting sun. There is usually quite a flow of people walking along the shore with their sandals in their hands and dogs and kids running about.

This watercolor was inspired from a previous experience out towards Bar Island with the setting sun. If you time it right it is an unforgettable experience.

Mid-Summer Day

                                                                            (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

I painted this on the green in Bar Harbor, Maine. It is a lovely setting with a captivating view towards the ocean. I deleted many elements to simplify the composition. There were many distractions all around me including many onlookers and children running about. Not to mention the numerous dogs people take with them.

Originally, I wanted to paint this lovely fountain on the corner of the green, in part since it was a hot day. There was a lovely wall I could perch on in the shade. However, a greyhound bus parked and blocked my view of the fountain. 

One thing I have learned is that you have to be flexible and willing to adapt to situations which arise when painting outside in the elements.

Cedar Street(in oil)

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

Several years ago I painted this scene along Cedar Street in Brattleboro, VT. What was significant was this picture was painted in oil. This was painted on a 9" x 12" panel.

I seldom paint in oil but have a desire to paint in oil again. 

Working in oil only with a palette knife appeals to me. One can achieve interesting surface marks with a palette knife plus it is much easier and faster with regards to cleaning up when no brushes are involved.

Finally, I had technical glitches and was unable to send my post out last night. Apologies for all about that.

Late Day Light

                                                                          (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

Sometimes you have to paint on the back of a watercolor you already painted. Time may be limited or that is the only sheet you have to work with. That was the case today. For me it is no loss. I figure every painting I do is the result of accumulated knowledge and enhanced judgement. 

There have been some amazing sunsets this month. The evening light changes rapidly creating great drama right up to the final fading light. We even have had a full moon lately,

Painting landscapes is very rewarding. The very act of painting the landscape makes you see things you would not ordinarily notice. Also, it makes you slow down and reflect on things.

Madame Sherri Forest

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

It has been a lovely summer so far, at least here in southern Vermont. There have been many clear, sunny days and the humidity hasn't been bad. On the other hand, we are in a drought, and I don't even remember spring rain like we normally would have in the past.

However, it is important to get out in nature and reconnect with the natural world. This watercolor reminds me and perhaps you, that the landscape is so diverse. This beaver pond is close to home and houses so much wildlife. The beavers were putting on a show, clusters of loud birds were flitting about and frogs with their droning vocalizations dominated the shoreline.

This was painted on Holbein watercolor paper. With this paper it seems best if I preserve the white of the paper somewhere on the sheet. This way you best portray light on your subject in addition to creating a layer of depth in the most efficient manner.

Multi-Drawing Book(Holbein)

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

I have come to embrace these Multi-Drawing books put out by Holbein. These come in a range of sizes from postcard to nearly half-sheets. They seem to take watercolor well. At first I wasn't so sure but over time I have really embraced this surface. They have bright white sheets which I like, too.

These books are great to doodle in or experiment on with different techniques. I record many color swatches in these too. These are great to take when traveling as they are quite portable and the sheets don't tear and they have hard covers.

You can even see that I (freehand)copied some Winslow Homer figures as I am working on getting better at painting figures in the landscape.

Brattleboro Retreat Farm

                                                                            (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro

Last night my wife and I walked down to the Brattleboro Retreat Farm to see a play performed outside. It was a beautiful evening with an interesting cloud pattern and striking sunset.

The play we saw was Carlo Goldoni's The Servant of Two Masters. It was a production of the Vermont Theatre Company.

While we watched the play I painted this scene en plein air from one of the picnic tables on the grounds. I did the best I could in the window that I was working in. 

The general public always feels entitled to see what you are working on. Which is fine and I am comfortable with as long as they don't interfere with the painting process. Of course, in watercolor unlike oils, you have to keep going because once the pigment dries you really can't modify your painting much.

 

Figure Painting

                                                                                     (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

Figure painting can be a challenge. It seems best when you put something down on paper to convey the movement of the human body. The human figure flexes in all kinds of directions which allows for endless opportunities to represent our existence. It can be as simple as a line drawing with a dot for the head.

In this watercolor doodle I like the pinkish background with the cool blue foreground. These are not colors I normally use together. It could be ice skaters or several cross country skiers.

I am committed to capturing the human body in movement, particularly at a larger scale where more of the personal characteristics are evident. It is important to utilize the fluidity of watercolor while not overdoing it. This takes much practice and a direct approach to painting. However, I think watercolor is the perfect medium to express the human figure.

The Masters' Choice Watercolor Paper(upon Reflection)

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

At this time of year the plant growth is so lush, green and layered that it is hard to comprehend the complexities of the natural world. And I am speaking from the state of Vermont where we have had a shortage of rain since winter.

All this greenery is reflected on our ponds, rivers and lakes. Of importance, is the habitat it provides for such a wide range of birds and other forms of life. Within walking distance of our house is a great heron which frequents a neighborhood pond while providing quite the sight when landing or taking off.

I have been experimenting with this Masters' Watercolor Paper since winter and I have to say I really like this paper. This was painted on one of two watercolor blocks that I purchased at the time. Both consist of this rough surface which leaves a lovely silky surface after the pigment dries. Also, it feels like I am painting on a thicker and more elegant surface.

Scott Farm

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

One of my favorite walks originates or ends at the Scott Farm in Dummerston, Vermont. It is in some ways a historic lesson as you are led along old apple orchards, gravel roads and rambling stone walls. In fact, Cider House Rules was filmed at the Scott Farm many years ago. The old buildings and barns from the working farm have such character as they have settled into the landscape over time and cast a history in the shadows.

Often I walk past this single apple tree which dominates the curve in the road. Production-wise it is probably a mini-orchard in of itself.

At this time of year, the rich greens which dominate the landscape are most appealing to me. I even like the sweep of gray from the gravel road as it disappears into the horizon.

Golden Fields

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro

This watercolor has been sitting on my desk in an unfinished state. So, tonight I put some time into developing this picture. I love the saturation of color. Also, it is pushing the boundaries of my palette.

This landscape has some weight to it. It even has a glow which is radiating from the ground up. 

I feel like this has the characteristics of a strong landscape painting. That is, a strong composition with elements reduced to the core and a simple color scheme. There is something enticing about trees, sky and the ground plane.

However, this watercolor is not yet finished.

 

West River Trail

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

The West River Trail in Brattleboro, VT, has become a lovely recreational corridor. It is well shaded in the summer months yet, becomes a solar walk in the winter in the afternoon when the leaves are off the trees(when the sun is out).

It really has increased public access to the West River. However, you can't miss the huge, new bridge looming over the river.

I feel like I got off to a good start with this watercolor. The view is toward the Retreat Meadows in the distance. There seems to be increasing bird activity every time I take a walk along the path.

Watercolor Sketches

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

It took me a while but I have begun to embrace this watercolor book. I mentioned in a previous post that I had begun to use this sketchbook from Holbein. In addition to watercolor, it is intended for other kinds of multi-media. It has thin pages but handles watercolor pretty well.

It has white sheets of paper which make the pigments come to life while remaining vibrant. I find it useful for compositional studies and experimenting with different color mixtures.

These Holbein books come in a variety of sizes up to around 16" x 21" which is a pretty good-sized page. They may even come in larger sizes.

Self Portrait

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

Recently, I came upon this self portrait I painted several years ago. I like how the hands are portrayed and the relaxed posture.

Also, the bench is of significance, at least in my family. It is named after a relative of ours who lived to to be over one hundred years old.

Finally, this watercolor reminds me of summers in Maine.

Watercolor Sketch

                                                                                       (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

When pressed for time I have been painting these quick watercolor sketches. Many are purely imaginary. It is an opportunity to try out new color mixes and see what I can do with them. I find it keeps the mind engaged and the paint flowing.

In addition, the importance of leaving the white of the paper, in some areas, is paramount. This draws the eye into the landscape and the pigment will not run where the paper is dry.

The color of the building was mixed with quinacridone gold and an orange color that has been sitting on my palette for some time. I like the richness of the color and the gritty texture. 

Most of all I like this direct way of painting which produces a fresh and lively style of applying paint.

Watercolor Studies

                                                                            (C) 2022 Dale DiMauro
 

It is rewarding to discover numerous ways to make marks on the paper. Dragging the brush and painting irregular edges are real expressive. Simply drawing with the brush can be very satisfying. It is important to leave patches of paper unpainted as this can provide a layer of dimension and texture in your painting.

I really like this Holbein watercolor paper that I have been painting on recently. It is a bright white paper which brings out the colors of the pigments. It is 140 lb paper but it seems to take many washes and hold it's own.

The  yellow-green color swatch on the top of the page I made by combining cadmium yellow and cerulean blue.  The lower right gray color swatch was made by combining veridian and cadmium red.